Comments on: Philllip Island WSB Results (News) (Race Results)

By: Patrick D

Patrick D — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:51:19 +0000

I am lucky enough that I was at the Catalunya MotoGP last year and the WSB in Aragon, as well as the Aragon MotoGP the season previous. The prototypes certainly are exciting bikes, but not from a racing point of view. There’s not enough of them, as we all know, and it’s all about the haves and have-nots. After the excitement of the warm up and the start, the Catalunya race was dull, as was apparent from the circuit atmosphere. TV reruns supported my take on that, and it was the same as all but about 2 races last season. A demonstration of those bikes at Goodwood or similar would be as much of a spectacle, and I’d encourage anyone to hear a MotoGP bike at full throttle at least once in their lives.
I know I’m spoilt, living in Northern Ireland where we have road racing at the Ulster Grand Prix, and other circuits, where we have 3 or 4 lead changes per lap and any one of 6/7 riders with a real chance of winning every race. MotoGP should be able to provide that, as the two support classes can do it, and the depbate amongst all of us is ‘how can that be achieved?’. More regulations/restrictions? Less? None of us knows that yet.

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By: Dale

Dale — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:33:00 +0000

All good. I look at MotoGP V. WSB as F1 to Austrialian Supercars. Yes F1 has the “Real” Championship for cages and $100,000,000 cars but most days I’d rather watch the Aussies dice it up. It’s just “better” racing on average like WSB, IMHO.

BTW I love MotoGP too!

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:12:43 +0000

re: “I only wish more people would post up the full races on the net (youtube?). I am too cheap to pay for satellite anymore.”

and here it is again in black and white… the devaluing nature of the modern day motorcyclist. ie. the root of all evil plaguing everything in the industry from the lowest to the highest levels. when the time comes, don’t say nobody ever told ya.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:57:38 +0000

re: “MotoGP is good on paper but dull to watch.”

with that in mind, i encourage you to attend a live grandprix while prototypes still exist. i gaurantee you’ll never speak those words again. well… except for when we go all CRT.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:45:19 +0000

re: “Big MotoGP fan, but decided to watch WSB for the first time.”

whoa, for a split second i was tempted to ban you for all time. but on second thought, i extend you a pass for honesty with a directive going forward that you watch (consume) more WSBK. besides, you’ll be watching it sooner or later once they are forced to merge for the common good.

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By: mickey

mickey — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:13:24 +0000

Dale I still intened to catch it when I catch it, because I love to watch motorcycles racing, but I don’t see it taking over for Moto GP in my mind even if it does have 8 more riders and several more factories participating. It’s the top riders who really make it exciting and MotoGP has better riders than WSB. If they did away with MotoGP I could certainly see becoming a fan of WSB, but the truth is the top 2 in WSB (as I saw it) are providing the exciting racing and they are ex MotoGP riders who couldn’t make it in MotoGP. Spies dominated WSB but has hardly made a dent in MotoGP. I believe he said a top ten finish in MotoGP is the equivalent of winning a WSB race.

World Championships don’t mean anything if you are not racing the best in the World. They are just titled “World Championships” just to give some validity to the class. Of the two winners at Phillip Island, Biaggi has 4 250cc Championships and one WSB Championship. He raced in 127 MotoGp’s with 13 wins and no championship and Checa has one WSB championship but raced in 194 MotoGp races with 2 wins and no championship.Between them they have raced in 321 MotoGP races have 15 wins and zero championships. Very talented riders no doubt, and the very best right now in WSB, but hardly the creme of motorcycle road racings crop. That’s why I called them second rate racers.

I mean no disrespect to fans of WSB, but just as in boxing the World Feather Weight Champion may in title be a “World Champion” but unless he can step into the ring and beat the current Heavyweight World Champion, few will know his name or respect his game.

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By: christow

christow — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:55:01 +0000

How can you be a “big MotoGP fan” and not watch WSBK? World Superbike is a great series to watch, and the riders are far from second rate. Watch a race in person sometime, those guys are amazing, each and every one of them. I like motorcycle racing, especially road racing…I watch everything I can get. I only wish more people would post up the full races on the net (youtube?). I am too cheap to pay for satellite anymore.

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By: Dale

Dale — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:53:20 +0000

As a long time WSB and MotoGP fan I’d suggest a better sampling of WSB. Bayliss/Edwards jumps out but there are So many moments, Races and Seasons that were outstanding they’re a happy rich blur at this point.

I can think of no series that consistently provides such great racing, even MotoGP. It’s a good series to watch many of your favorite MotoGP Riders on their way up to MotoGP and on their way… to WSK.

Those “Second rate racers” are racing for World Championships, the two winners at Phillip Island have 6 World titles between them… Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha have powered the World Superbike Champions in the last 8 years…

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By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:42:53 +0000

Postponed due to rain so it shouldn’t eclipse the ratings for the weekend.

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By: Stinky

Stinky — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:27:35 +0000

It’s good to see WSB going, Moto GP is about gone. Six brands, very good riders vs 3 (2 really)brands and 3 great riders. Kinda like NBA vs NCAA it’s good to see what some say is second rate but having some real competition. Honda was threatening to pull out if CRT bikes were allowed. They know they could kill the whole series and so does Dorna. They’re scrambling to keep it alive. Good on paper, dull to watch is about right.

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